Diagonally oscillating concentrator

ABSTRACT

A concentrator of the sluice trough type reciprocates bodily along a path diagonal to the length of the trough. Horizontal plates carrying diagonal guideways thereon guide the trough at points spaced lengthwise of the trough, the plates and hence the guideways being adjustable about vertical axes that transect the midpoints of the reciprocatory path, by means of a horizontal rod common to all the plates and extending parallel to the trough and rotatable to swing the plates in unison about their vertical axes. The rod is pivotally connected to the plates and to the trough support and portions of the rod are universally connected to each other between the plates.

United States Paten [191 Gobatti 541 DIAGONALLY OSCILLATING CONCENTRATOR [76] Inventor: Edmond F. Gobatti, Route 3, Box

252 A, Pueblo, Colo. 81004 [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 73,109

[ 51 Apr. 3, 1973 Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-Ralph J. Hill AttorneyYoung and Thompson [57] ABSTRACT A concentrator of the sluice trough type reciprocates bodily along a path diagonal to the length of the trough. Horizontal plates carrying diagonal guideways thereon guide the trough at'points spaced lengthwise of the trough, the plates and hence the guideways being adjustable about vertical axes that transect the midpoints of the reciprocatory path, by means of a horizontal rod common to all the plates and extending parallel to the trough and rotatable to swing the plates in unison about their vertical axes. The rod is pivotally connected to the plates and to the trough support and portions of the rod are universally connected to each other between the plates.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Pmmgnms ma 3 724,661

INVENTOR EDMOND F. GOBATTI BY 7 WW ATTORNEYS DIAGONALLY OSCILLATING CONCENTRATOR The present invention relates to a concentrator, and more particularly to a concentrator of the reciprocating sluice trough type.

In the separation of materials of various particle weights and sizes, it is common practice to concentrate an aqueous slurry of the material by feeding it to an elongated box or trough having a plurality of longitudinally spaced obstacles over which the slurry passes. The trough is reciprocated lengthwise and the water and lighter particles tend to pass over the obstacles while the heavy particles tend to be left behind in the bottom of the trough.

For example, in oredressing operations, ground ore is frequently fed to such a trough along with water. The trough is provided with transverse partitions known as riffles, and as the trough is reciprocated the concentrates tend to collect in the compartments between the riffles while the lighter middlings and tailings or gangue pass over the riffles to further compartments. Finally, the tailin'gs and water leave the end of the sluice trough which isopposite the feed end.

This is the field of development to which the present invention pertains; and the invention has utility in the concentration of all materials which may be subjected to the foregoing operations, and particularly mineral ores. Examples of these ores are the ores of gold and silver, gold quartz, copper, copper and silver, tungsten scheelite, thorium, gold placer sands, zinc and lead, ground scrap mica, zinc carbonate, beryllium, etc.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a concentrator of the reciprocatory sluice trough type having mounting means to vary the inclination of the path of the trough in a horizontal plane.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a concentrator of the reciprocatory sluice trough type which will be relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, disassemble, adjust, clean, maintain and repair, and rugged and durable in use.

Broadly, the objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a concentrator of the reciprocatory sluice trough type, in which a novel trough-guiding arrangement is provided, including a pair of guideways on horizontal plates adjustably inclined to the length of the trough and disposed at spaced points along the length of the trough, with means for simultaneously rotating these plates about vertical axes that substantially transect the guideways adjacent the midpoint of reciprocation of the trough. The plates are simultaneously adjustably rotatable by means of a rod that extends lengthwise of the trough and is pivotally interconnected to all the plates and pivotally interconnected to the concentrator frame and which has a universal joint interconnecting portions of the rods between the plates.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a concentrator according to the present invention, with the sluice trough removed;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2- 2 of FIG. 1 with the sluice trough shown schematically; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to H6. 2 but taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, there is shown a concentrator according to the present invention, which has many similarities to the concentrator shown in my US. Pat. No. 2,989,184, June 20, 1961, to which reference may be had for a number of the features of construction and operation that are not set forth in detail in the present disclosure, and for a number of the different embodiments in which the present invention may be exemplified. Thus, the concentrator of the present invention comprises a frame 5 in the form of an elongated, generally rectangular open framework, which carries a sluice trough indicated generally at 7 and that may have the form of a flat trough or a circulating endless trough, as pointed out in my above-identified patent.

An endwise overhanging end of frame 5 carries the reciprocating trough drive, in the form of a drive motor 20, which in the illustrated embodiment is electric but could be powered by gasoline or other means. Motor 20 has the usual drive shaft terminating in a drive pulley 21 which is adjustable as to effective driving radius so as to obtain various drive speeds. A drive belt 23 connects pulley 21 with the larger pulley of a gear reduction unit 25 which rotates a rotor 27 about a vertical axis counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 1. The rotor 27 has a diametral slot 29 across its upper surface in which an eccentric drive pin 31 may clamped at any selected distance from the axis of rotor 27. A pitman 33 is joumaled at one end on drive pin 31 and at its other or trough end on a connector pin 35. Pitman 33 is provided intermediate its length with an adjustable telescopic sleeve assembly 36 for changing the length of pitman 33 thereby to alter the movement of the trough.

A pair of longitudinally spaced crosspieces 37 extend between and interconnect a pair of parallel, longitudinally disposed side channel members 39. Connector pin 35 is secured on a vertical axis beneath the crosspiece 37 which is disposed adjacent the head end of trough 7. Channel members 39 are interconnected at their ends to form an open rectangular frame 41 which is the principal support of trough 7. Frame 41 in turn is supported on frame 5 for longitudinal reciprocatory movement relative thereto by four brackets 43, two of which are secured beneath the ends of each crosspiece 37. Each bracket 43 retains within its lower end a spherical roller 45, the rollers 45 being supported for rolling movement on a pair of longitudinally spaced plates 47 which extend transversely of the top of frame 5, as best seen in FIG. 2.

Frame 41 thus provides an upwardly open base on the inwardly extending horizontal channels of which trough 7 detachably rests. Reciprocatory motion is imparted to frame 41 and hence to trough 7 by the drive train between and including motor 20 and pitman 33, and the speed and stroke of this drive is variable by adjustment of the drive pulley 21 and/or drive pin 31 as described above. The marginal edges of slot 29 are provided with indicia so that drive pin 31 can be quickly reset at its optimum position for subsequent operations of a similar nature.

Material is fed to and removed from sluice trough 7 as described in my above-identified patent, or in any other conventional manner.

The drive pin described above assures that the movement of trough 7 will be generally longitudinally reciprocatory. The particular paths of movement followed by the trough, however, are determined by a pair of guideways 65, one disposed adjacent the head end of trough 7 and the other disposed adjacent the tail end of the trough. The guideways are identical to each other. Thus, the guideways 65 are each comprised by horizontal plates 67 extending transversely of frame 5. Secured to the upper surface of each plate 67 is a pair of parallel channels 69 having upstanding spaced parallel flanges. Channels 69 are disposed at a substantial and adjustable angle to the longitudinal extent of trough 7 in all trough positions, for example, preferably at an angle of about 45 to the mean trough position indicated in FIG. 1. A crosspiece 71 interconnects the undersides of Iongitudinal channel members 39 of frame 41, and a guide roller 73 is journaled for rotation about a vertical axis beneath crosspiece 71. Thus, upon reciprocatory movement of frame 41 and with it the trough 7, rollers 73 move along diagonal paths between channels 69, as best seen by comparison of FlGS. l and 3, thereby to impart to the trough 7 a bodily reciprocatory movement diagonal to the length of the trough, any point on the trough having a path of movement of the same length as and parallel to all other points on the trough.

Means are also provided for varying the lateral and longitudinal components of the movement of trough 7 by rotation of plates 67 about vertical axes which preferably coincide with the axes of rollers 73 in the mean position of trough 7 thereby to .alter the inclination of channels 69 about those axes. For this purpose, each plate 67 is provided with a downwardly depending pin 74 journaled for rotation in a crosspiece of frame 5 and is provided adjacent its ends with a pair of concentric arcuate slots 75 in each of which is disposed one of a pair of posts 77 mounted on opposite sides of frame 5. Posts 77 include clamping nuts for clamping the plates 67 in any adjusted rotated position; and when these clamping nuts are released, plates 67 may be rotated in their common horizontal plane with posts 77 moving in slots 75.

Means are provided for thus moving both plates 67 simultaneously and by the same amounts, comprising a longitudinally extending adjustment rod 79 which has an externally screw-threaded portion disposed in an internally screw-threaded bracket 81 which is secured to frame 5 for rotation about a vertical axis relative to frame 5. The end of rod 79 remote from plates 67 carries a crank handle 83. Rod 79 is pivotally interconnected with each plate 67 by means of a bracket 85 which is mounted on an end of each plate 67 for rotation relative to plate 67 about an upright axis. Rod 79 is also in two portions which are interconnected by a universal joint 87 disposed along the length of rod 79 between plates 67.

Upon actuation of motor 20, therefore, the sluice trough 7 will be given reciprocatory movement along the diagonal lines indicated by the guideways 65 best seen in FIG. 1. Regardless of the embodiment of the trough 7, it will have riffles extending transverse to its length, so that the concentrates and slurries fed to the trough will undergo a compound movement which is substantially uniform from end to end of the trough and which thus produces a beneficial separating action, so

that the heavier portions of the material treated tend to be retained between the riffles and the liquid and other portions tend to move toward one end of the trough.

To adjust the angles of the guideways 65 simultaneously, it is necessary to make only one adjustment, by rotation of the crank handle 83. The rod moves endwise in one direction or the other, because bracket 81 is screw threaded, and plates 67 then turn in a horizontal plane by the same amount and in the same direction as each other, so that the guideways 65 remain parallel to each other at all times. Alternatively, of course, the guideways 65 can be nonparallel in a predetermined angular relationship to each other, which predetermined angular relationship will tend to be maintained despite rotation of crank handle 83.

It has also been found that the need for small lateral movements of the brackets 85, upon rotation of crank handle 83, are adequately accommodated by mounting the brackets 81 and 85 for rotation about vertical axes relative to their respective supports, and by providing the universal joint 87 between portions of rod 79 and disposed lengthwise of the trough between the plates 67. it will of course be understood that the rod 79 is quite long and is therefore not entirely rigid. It has also been found that an improvement in the operation of the rod 79 is produced by the relative movement of at least one but less than all of the elements 81, 85 and 87.

In view of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will be evident that all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achieved.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A concentrator comprising a base, an elongated sluice trough, an elongated frame supporting the sluice trough onthe base for lengthwise reciprocatory movement of the sluice trough relative to the base, a pair of plates supported on the base and providing guideways for the reciprocation of the frame, the plates being spaced apart lengthwise of the frame, means mounting the plates on the base for rotation relative to the base about vertical axes passing through the guideways, a rod having an externally screw-threaded portion received in an internally screw-threaded bracket, and means mounting said bracket on the base for rotation relative to the base about a vertical axis, the rod being rotatably disposed in brackets that are mounted for rotation on both plates about vertical axes spaced a distance from the vertical axes about which the plates rotate, the rod interconnecting the plates to rotate the plates about the first-mentioned vertical axes simultaneously and by the same amount upon rotation of the rod thereby to maintain the same angular relationship of the guideways to each other at all times.

2. A concentrator as claimed in claim 1, the rod being in two portions and having a universal connection interconnecting said portions and disposed between said plates. 

1. A concentrator comprising a base, an elongated sluice trough, an elongated frame supporting the sluice trough on the base for lengthwise reciprocatory movement of the sluice trough relative to the base, a pair of plates supported on the base and providing guideways for the reciprocation of the frame, the plates being spaced apart lengthwise of the frame, means mounting the plates on the base for rotation relative to the base about vertical axes passing through the guideways, a rod having an externally screwthreaded portion received in an internally screw-threaded bracket, and means mounting said bracket on the base for rotation relative to the base about a vertical axis, the rod being rotatably disposed in brackets that are mounted for rotation on both plates about vertical axes spaced a distance from the vertical axes about which the plates rotate, the rod interconnecting the plates to rotate the plates about the firstmentioned vertical axes simultaneously and by the same amount upon rotation of the rod thereby to maintain the same angular relationship of the guideways to each other at all times.
 2. A concentrator as claimed in claim 1, the rod being in two portions and having a universal connection interconnecting said portions and disposed between said plates. 